The decade of the ever changing 1970’s was coming to a close with a bright future ahead for the 1980’s. What kind of year was 1979 and what kind of living expenses did we experience back then? What were the big news happenings in 1979?
As we always do lets begin with what the cost of living was then. The average income was $17,500.00 and the average cost of new 3 bedroom home was $58,100.00. A gallon of gas had jumped up to 86 cents a gallon. An Atari Video Computer System was $199., a JVC VHS Video Recorder System $549. You could by a Toyota Corolla for just $3,698.00. Sony introduced the Walkman and that sold for $200. In the news headlines the Three Mile Island Nuclear accident after fire at reactor in Pennsylvania. Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister in the UK. 63 Americans are taken hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran and Iran’s government becomes Islamic Republic as Ayatollah Khomeini takes over. Voyager I photo reveals Jupiter’s rings. The first Snowboard is invented and introduced. There is also the first commercial Cellular Network, NTT. The game Trivial Pursuit is introduced and the first bungee jumps are done in the UK.
In entertainment news the top Hollywood films included Kramer vs. Kramer, Superman – The Movie, Deer Hunter and the Amityville Horror. In music among the top names in 1979 were Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, The Eagles and Donna Summer. As for TV the big popular shows then included M*A*S*H, Happy Days, The Love Boat, Charlie’s Angels, Quincy M.E. and Three’s Company. Among the celebrities we lost in 1979 was baseball player Thurman Munson, actor John Wayne, politician Nelson Rockefeller, band leader Stan Kenton and actress Vivian Vance.
In the porn world there were a number of changes taking place. More and more production was shifting to the West coast. New technology was allowing for better cameras and production of adult films and as the 80’s loomed, a new batch of stars would soon emerge with a new look in adult films. The year produced a number of top porn films including the classic we look back at today, “Ecstasy Girls” .
Ecstasy Girls – Caballero Home Video – Director – Robert McCallum – Cast – Jamie Gillis, Serena, Georgina Spelvin, John Leslie, Paul Thomas, Leslie Bovee, Desiree Cousteau, Laurien Dominique, John Hollwell, Richard Norris, Stacy Evans, Don Fernando, others.
This plays like a mainstream film right from the start. It’s cool to see the exterior shots of Los Angeles, Hollywood and Las Vegas circa 1979 in the opening and how things have changed since. (Take note of the Las Vegas marquees and the stars appearing then) Then there are the clothing styles worn by men and women at the time lending even more of a nostalgic touch. But this film, produced by Harold Lime and directed by Robert McCallum is a true golden age classic. Back then porn films had plot, acting, exterior shots and general production values that were outstanding for the time. This production was done on location in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco and really lends to the feel of the entire film.
The story is about a washed up actor in B-movies Jerry Martin (Jamie Gillis) who makes his money by escorting starlets to movie premieres. He still takes in the various Hollywood parties and at one party the host J.C. Church (Frank Holliwell), watches him as he seduces a party goer (Desiree Cousteau). It is quite a scene as he is also being observed by Church’s sister Madeline (Georgina Spelvin) while J.C. keeps an eye on his sister. After that Church telephones Gillis with a proposition and this where the plot and story really begin to mesh. It seems that J.C.’s brother, Edgar Church (Richard Norris), a very, very wealthy industrialist from whom J.C. stands to inherit money. Edgar also has the sister and four daughters, but all those shares would cut J.C.’s take, so he has a plan to offer Gillis. Edgar is a straight laced prude and puritan and would be shocked if he knew his sister and daughters really have sex and live life. So J.C. tells Gillis if he can get film of the five ladies in compromising positions, Edgar will cut them out of the will and that would leave everything for J.C. So he offers Gillis $100,000 to do the job, and Gillis accepts. He immediately calls in his two buddies, (John Leslie and Paul Thomas) tells them the plan and they all set up the ruse to seduce the women and get everything on film.
As for the sex scenes that take place in this plan there some very hot scenes. Of course the ladies had full bush back then but still the scenes play well some 35 years later. The Gillis/Cousteau scene is a real scorcher, the scene between Gillis and Georgina Spelvin flat out sizzles and then there are the twin sisters (both played by Serena). There’s an S/M scene with Serena and Gillis, that really goes for the gusto as Serena and Gillis play this to the hilt. At a later party scene there is some trick photography where two Serena’s appear in the same shot.
The plan goes along well until Gillis begins to have feelings and tells Georgina he wants out, but she has another plan that will rock her brother J.C. With this new plan she will get her inheritance and Gillis will get his money and a lot more in the bargain. So he tells his buddies, Leslie and Thomas, he is done with everything, pays them off and sides with Georgina. This is when the biggest plot twist of the film comes about involving J.C. It is played out very well and not what you would have expected to see coming. But all’s well that ends well. Gillis and Georgina pull off her plan perfectly leaving J.C. with little choice but to play their game against Edgar. It is all beautifully done with a nice mainstream touch.
“The Ecstasy Girls” is an extremely well done and very memorable classic that won several awards. It is ironic that in the film Paul Thomas is the one doing most of the camera work in the seduction scenes. Years later and today, Thomas has gone on to become one of the top directors in porn. The performances by the cast show off some excellent acting chops to bring a lot of realism to this well written story. The camera work is top notch capturing the very essence of the characters and the locations are the perfect backdrop for this story. McCallum’s direction is fluid, well paced and always has a good mainstream feel.
This definitely one classic you should try and find. It has been redone on DVD and the visuals are decent as is the audio. If you want a good classic, with story, plot, hot and steamy sex, then get hold of “Ecstasy Girls” it is a great film for couples to enjoy and for collectors of classics this goes on the “must get” list.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
